Heat interchange apparatus



AUS' 29,- 1944- G. E. DNo ETIAL 2,3561319 HEAT INTERCHANGE APPARATUS I Filed April 6,- 1945 c D D c n n. ar\r c Fig.2

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 HEAT INTERCHANGE APPARATUS George Edward Dono and Ronald Harbridge Goddard, Oxford, England, assignors to Morris Motors Limited, Cowley, Oxford, England v Application April 6, 1943, Serial No. 482,020 A In Great Britain April 18, 1942 1 Claim.

This invention relates to heat interchange apparatus of the kind comprising a system of thinwalled metal tubes terminating at each end in a chamber (usually termed a tank) by which liquid is conveyed to and from the tubes, and particularly the invention relates to oil or water coolers used in conjunction with` internal combustion engines for aircraft, road vehicles and other purposes. Hitherto difficulty has been experienced in providing the required strength in the tanks to resist the pressures to which they are subjected without unduly increasing the weight of the apparatus, and the object of the present invention is to enable this diiliculty to be avoided in a simple and satisfactory manner.

In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings- Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a fragmentary plan of a part of a liquid cooler provided with a tank in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a section-a1 view of a modied detail.

The liquid cooler shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an assembly of thin-Walled metal tubes a of elongated cross section inserted through gill plates b and having their ends secured to tube plates as c which form parts of liquid tanks as d. In carrying the invention into effect as shown in Figures 1 and 2, we complete each tank d by means-of a plurality of cover platese arranged side by side so as to enclose the corresponding tube plate c. Each cover plate e is of trough-like form, and is preferably of arched cross section. The ends of the cover plates e are closed by separate or integral end pieces. Supposing that three cover plates e are required, one of these is placed between and with its sides closely adjacent to the other two. To secure the cover p-lates e in position ilanges y are formed around the tube plate c, andthe ends of all three cover plates and the outer sides of the two outer cover plates are secured to these flanges, union being effected by soldering or like means. Also on the tube plate c are secured by soldering or like means two transverse ribs h, arranged parallel with each other and in positions corresponding to the adjacent sides of the cover plates e, the upper edge portions of the ribs being situated between and in contact with the corresponding sides of the cover plates. These sides of the cover plates e are supported by metal strips i riveted or otherwise secured to the adjacent surfaces of the ribs, the latter and the contiguous sides of y the cover plates being also united by soldering or other like means. Communication between the interiors of the cover plates e is effected when required by holes i in the ribs h.

1f desired the ribs h. may be provided at their edges adjacent to the tube plate c with laterally extending and oppositely directed lugs k as shown in Figure 3 these lugs being adapted to be secured to the tube plate by soldering or other means.

The supporting strips imay be shaped as shown in Figure 1 to lie partly in contact with the corresponding sides of the cover plates e and partly in contact with the corresponding ribs h. Alternatively spacing pieces m may be arranged between the strips i and the corresponding ribs h as shown in Figure 3. But in either case the strips z' form with the ribs h channels adapted to receive side portions of the cover plates e.

By the use of a plurality of cover plates in-` stead of a single and relatively large plate the required strength and saving of weight can be obtained in a very satisfactory manner.

The invention is not, however, limited to the examples above described, as the number 0f separate parts employed in each cover may be varied. Also in some forms of apparatus it is only necessary to construct one of the tanks in the manner above described, particularly when the other end of the apparatus is provided with two independent and relatively small tanks to which ordinary modes of construction are satisfactorily applicable. An additional advantage obtained by our invention is that it facilitates repairs.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

For use in heat interchange apparatus of the kind speciiied, a tank comprising in combination a tube plate, parallel ribs on the tube plate, a plurality of cover plates of trough-like form arranged side byrside, and metal strips secured to the ribs and forming therewith channels adapted to receive side portions of the cover plates, the outer sides and ends of the cover plate assembly being secured to the tube plate, and the adjacent sides of the cover plates being secured to the ribs on the tube plate.

GEORGE EDWARD DONO. RONALD HARBRIDGE GODDARD. 

